By the prestigious and widely read US based magazine 'Hotels' Burj Al Arab's signature restaurant 'Al Mahara' was recently voted amongst the top ten best hotel restaurants in the world by the prestigious US based magazine 'Hotels'.

'Hotels' is the magazine of the worldwide hotel industry based in the USA and the award for 'Great Hotel Restaurants' was organised in conjunction with Villeroy & Boch. It is the 14th time this prestigious and worldwide read magazine honours hotel restaurants that set the standards of excellence.

The official Selection Committee for the awards consisted of food essayists, authors, consultants and designers who were faced with the difficult task to select the winners out of over 100 nominees. About the selection process the magazine says: "Consistency is a theme, as much for food quality as service and design. Like the food, restaurant design is clean-lined, but richer and deeper. Comfort is key in the front of the house, as well as the back of the house where chefs encourage brainstorming sessions involving the entire brigade. These factors add up to the excellence required in a truly great hotel restaurant".

John Wood, Executive Chef of Burj Al Arab said: "We are honoured and proud that we have achieved yet another world ranking for our hotel restaurants. All of us at Burj Al Arab have worked very hard to develop the restaurants at the hotel and I would like to express a big thank you to the team for their continued support, dedication and commitment in our strive for excellence". He added: "The award is a reflection of our continuous effort and commitment to quality in all that we do at Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah International".

Click here to acces the Burj Al Arab web site.

About Jumeirah International - Jumeirah International properties are regarded as among the most luxurious and innovative in the world and have won numerous international travel and design awards. The group encompasses the world-renowned Burj Al Arab that has become a true icon and landmark for Dubai, the award winning Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Emirates Towers Hotel, Offices and Shopping Boulevard, The Jumeirah Beach Club, The World Trade Centre Hotel Dubai and Wild Wadi water park. In addition, the group opened The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management in summer 2001.

Jumeirah International has expanded outside the Middle East into London, taking over the management contracts of The Carlton Tower and The Lowndes Hotel in London's Belgravia last December. Following on from Jumeirah International's move into the UK, The Carlton Tower was immediately included in the prestigious 'Leading Hotels of the World' handbook following Burj Al Arab, Emirates Towers Hotel and The Jumeirah Beach Hotel.

The company's latest expansion is the unique resort development Madinat Jumeirah. Enhancing Dubai's reputation as one of the world's most idyllic destinations, the 100-acre resort will offer the ultimate Arabian experience against the setting of a highly luxurious, world-class, multi-facility resort. Madinat Jumeirah will include two 300 room five star hotels and clusters of 340 rooms and suites all featuring authentic architecture reflecting the heritage and culture of Dubai and the Arabian region. The first phase of the resort is scheduled to open in September 2003 followed by the second phase in autumn 2004. For more information visit www.jumeirahinternational.com.

Mia Hedman
Director of Corporate Communications
+971 4 364 7947
Jumeirah